LEGAL HEALTH RECORD: Definition and Standards

Transcription

1 LEGAL HEALTH RECORD: Definition and Standards DEVELOPING YOUR STRATEGY & Tool Kit Diane Premeau, MBA, MCIS, RHIA, RHIT, CHP, A.C.E.

2 OBJECTIVES Define Legal Health Record Differentiate between Designated Record Set and Legal Health Record Identify Components of Legal Health Record Policy Understand importance to E-Discovery

3 What is a Legal Health Record? Information created, received or maintained by an organization that is the business record of activities, operations Record has value requiring adherence to regulatory and retention rules. Generated for healthcare and would be released upon request.

4 Where is the Legal Health Record? E.HR Systems E.HR Content Designated Record Set LEGAL HEALTH RECORD

5 Definitions: Business Record A recording/record made or received in conjunction with a business purpose and preserved as evidence or because the information has value. Information is created, received and maintained about a person. Must be maintained to comply with applicable regulations, accreditation standards, professional practice standards & legal standards.

6 Legal Health Record (LHR) Record generated at or for a healthcare organization as its business record and is the record that would be released upon request. Supports decisions made in patient care. Supports claims for revenue. Serves as legal testimony regarding illness, injury, response to treatment, and caregiver decisions. Each entity MUST define the content & standards

7 Designated Record Set (DRS) (HIPAA ) A group of records maintained by or for a covered entity that is the: medical and billing records about individuals; enrollment, payments, claims records, medical management record systems maintained by or for a health plan (case management); information used in whole or in part by entity to make decisions about individuals.

8 Hybrid Record Information that is maintained in a variety of media, including paper and electronic. Comprised of both paper and electronic processes to collect, store, retrieve and utilize the information. Hybrid record is more difficult to define and manage as legal record.

9 Electronic Health Record (E.HR) Medical information compiled in a data gathering format (point of care) for retention and transfer of Protected Health Information (PHI) via secured, and/or encrypted communication options. Can generate a health record of a clinical encounter May provide clinical decision support, alerts, outcomes reporting, quality monitoring. Components that can be released can be variable.

10 Personal Health Record (PHR) An Individuals own record, maintained by the individual, created by the individual and health care providers. PHR is separate from and does not replace the legal health record. Can be incorporated into Legal Health Record. Individual owns and determines access rights.

11 WHO IS THE CUSTODIAN Past: Director of HIM Present: Hybrid, E.HR - Several custodians Direct Custodian (typically HIM) Data Owner or Steward Business Associate/ Third Parties Office Record and Systems Custodian And.

12 Where is your Legal Health Record Define the location of your record from creation to storage Past: Chart order Present: Variety of Sources Best Practice - Development a matrix (attachment) Track source system, location, retention, media, designated record set Identify content external to organization

13 Where do you Start?? Do you know how your record is created? FIND ALL Systems All media Conduct a source system review Where, Who, What output? Do you have SPECIAL considerations? Mental Health, Custody, Children or??

14 Hybrid Record Matrix IP Document (list all your documents) VIEWING LOCATION Source System SCANN ED Locatio n for Legal Record (P, E) Part of Design ated Record Set Created by Interface 1 1. ADMITTING INFO Inpatient Admission Registration sheet Conditions of Admission Code Status Orders Medication Consents Legal Status documents: Organ Donation Form 2 ADMINISTRATIVE DOCUMENTS Advance Directive Alert Form Advance Directives Acknowledgement Interfacility transfer sheet Health Facility Minor Release Report Paper/ EDM Core System E Y Admitting System A Discharge Summary Paper/ EDM Chart Script No E Y Transcripti on System A Physician/Treatment Coordinator Discharge Summary Death Notice Death Certificate Worksheet Autopsy

15 Hybrid Matrix (con t) IP Document (list all your documents) Able to Print Version Management Back -up Location where stored Meta data Audit Trail Location of Training for Access Special Category (mental health, administrativ e 1. ADMITTING INFO Inpatient Admission Registration sheet Yes Yes Yes IT Yes Yes Admitting administrative Conditions of Admission Code Status Orders Medication Consents Legal Status documents: Organ Donation Form

16 Designated or Legal Health Record? STEP 1: Identify Record Content Understand DRS from LRS Designated Record Set Includes LHR PLUS medical and billing records; enrollment, payment, claims, health plan, decision making documents Legal Health Record Individually identifiable data in any medium collected and used in documenting healthcare services or health status. Excludes administrative, derived or aggregate data

17 STEP 2: Components of the Legal Health Record Policy? Identify content of the LHR Health records Business & legal record Administrative Clinical External Bills, H&P; Orders; Progress External patient care Encounter forms Notes; records Case Management Records Lab Reports/Diagnostics PHR Remittance advice Nursing Documentation Therapies (Designated Record Set Only) Authorizations/Consents Clinical Reports

18 Step3: Develop YOUR Standards LHR policy is NOT just a list of documents LHR policy defines how to manage the record. Part I: Define your Legal Record How created Who can create the record Formats Purpose Contents: Internal and External document

19 LHR Definition (Sample Legal Record Definition and Standards) The Legal Medical Record (LMR) is the documentation of services provided to an individual during any aspect of healthcare delivery and is patient-centric. The legal health record contains individually identifiable data, stored on any medium, collected and directly used in documenting healthcare or health status. The legal health record is the business record and is the record that will be disclosed upon request.

20 LHR: How Created & Format (Sample Legal Record Definition and Standards) The Legal Medical Record may be a hybrid record utilizing both paper-based and electronic documents, which are captured manually and via electronic processes. Only individuals authorized to do so by Hospital and/or Medical Staff Policies and Procedures make entries into the Legal Health Record.

21 LHR: Purpose (Sample Legal Record Definition and Standards) PURPOSE The Legal Health Record definition and standards set forth in this Policy provide a framework for the integrity of paper and electronic clinical documentation systems that compile and maintain Legal Health Records to meet patient care and regulatory requirements. The Legal Health Record contains sufficient information to identify the patient, support the diagnosis, justify the treatment and services, document the course and results of care, and promote the continuity of care among health providers. (CMS Language)

22 LHR: Source Data; External documents The Legal Health Record may include source data in the absence of documentation or interpretations. (e.g.. Fetal monitor strips, etc) The Legal Health Record may include records from other health care providers as the result of tests and exams when necessary for the evaluation of the patient and subsequent treatment.

23 PART II: Standards for LHR: Identify Standards for Managing your LHR Maintenance: How generated & maintained Confidentiality: Data access, Data release Content: Matrix plus rules of creation Drafts; System requirements for identification Authentication & Completion Security and Retention: Downtime, Back-up, Disaster Recovery

24 Maintenance: How generated & maintained Maintenance of the Legal Health Record Your LHR may be considered a hybrid record, consisting of both electronic and paper documentation. Documentation that comprises the LHR may physically exist in separate and multiple locations in both paper-based and electronic formats. (See Grid to identify type and location of documents). The Legal Health Record contents can be maintained in either paper (hardcopy) or electronic formats, including digital images, and can include patient identifiable source information, such as photographs, films, digital images, electronic messages (e.g. s) and fetal monitor strips. The electronic components of the Legal Health Record consist of patient information from multiple electronic health record source systems.

25 Confidentiality Personnel who access the electronic Health Record are required to have a unique user ID/ password, access to information is limited according to the minimum necessary rule and managed by role, as approved by designated management personnel.

26 LHR CONTENT Legal Health Record content shall meet all State and Federal legal, regulatory and accreditation requirements All documentation and entries in the record, both paper and electronic, must be identified with a minimum of two identifiers, preferably the patient s full name and a unique number. All record entries should be made as soon as possible after the care is provided, after an event occurs, or after an observation is made. An entry for the actual patient treatment or procedure will never be made in the Medical Record in advance of the service provided to the patient. Only forms/reports approved can be used to document or capture data in the Legal Health Record.

27 CONTENT Preliminary reports/documents are available for patient care until they are authenticated. Once a document/report has been authenticated by the author (Final version) only that version is electronically displayed or filed in the paper chart. Only approved abbreviations will be used in the Legal Health Record.

28 Completion All inpatient records must be completed within 14 days from the date of discharge. All ambulatory records will be completed immediately following the encounter. All operative and procedure reports will be completed immediately after surgery. All record entries are to be dated, the time entered, and signed. Certain electronic methods of authenticating the record, including methods such as passwords, access codes, or key cards may be allowed provided certain requirements are met. The methodology for authenticating the document electronically must comply with electronic signature policy. Do you have an electronic signature policy?

29 Define Standards for LHR (Advanced) Downtime (what are the options???) Corrections & Amendments: Paper; Scanned Documents Transcription Point of Care Systems Copy and Paste Guidelines: YES OR NO??

30 Maintenance All Health Records, regardless of form or format, must be maintained in their entirety, and no document or entry may be deleted from the record, except in accordance with the destruction policy.

31 Corrections and Amendments If records requiring correction are from an outside provider, the patient should be instructed to contact the originator for an amendment. The correction must indicate the reason for the correction, and the correction entry must be dated and signed by the person making the revision.

32 Correcting Electronic Version: Do you know the options?? Documents that are created electronically must be corrected by one of the following mechanisms: 1. Adding an addendum to the electronic document to indicate the corrected information, the identity of the individual who created the addendum, the date created, and the electronic signature of the individual making the addendum. 2. Preliminary versions of transcribed documents may be edited by the author prior to signing. A transcription analyst may also make changes when a non-clinical error is discovered prior to signing (i.e., wrong work type, wrong date, wrong attending assigned). 3. Once a transcribed document is final, it can only be corrected in the form of an addendum affixed to the final copy as indicated above. Examples of documentation errors that are corrected by addendum include: wrong date, wrong location, duplicate documents, or incomplete documents. The amended version must be reviewed and signed by the provider.

33 Corrections - Scanning Errors in Scanning Documents (if applicable) What are your options????

34 Corrections: Point of Care Electronic Documentation Direct Online Data Entry Note: The following are guidelines for making corrections to direct entry of clinical documentation, and mechanisms may vary from one system to another. 1. In general, correcting an error in an electronic/ computerized health record should follow the same basic principles as corrections to the paper record. 2. The system must have the ability to track corrections or changes to any documentation once it has been entered or authenticated. 3. When correcting or making a change to a signed entry, the original entry must be viewable, the current date and time must be entered, and the person making the change must be identified.

35 COPY & PASTE Organization specific. G. Copy and Paste Guidelines The copy and paste functionality available for electronic Medical Records eliminates duplication of effort and saves time, but it must be used carefully to ensure accurate documentation and must be kept to a minimum. Copying test results/data: If a clinician copies and pastes test results into an encounter note, the clinical-provider is responsible for ensuring the copied data is relevant and accurate.

36 E-Signatures Electronic signatures must meet standards for: Data integrity to protect data from accidental or unauthorized change (for example locking of the entry so that once signed no further untracked changes can be made to the entry); Authentication to validate the correctness of the information and confirm the identity of the signer (for example requiring signer to authenticate with password or other mechanism); Non-repudiation to prevent the signer from questioning that they signed the document (for example, public/private key architecture). At a minimum, the electronic signature must include the full name and either the credentials of the author or a unique identifier, and the date and time signed.

37 What is NOT the LHR? Secondary Patient Information Source data used to create summaries Administrative Data Derived Data Drafts, Work in Progress Audit Trails

38 Not Part of LHR Patient-identifiable source data A. Patient-identifiable source Examples include, but not limited to 1. Photographs for identification purposes 2. Audio recordings of dictation notes or patient phone calls. 3. Video recordings of an office visit, if taken for other than patient care purposes 4. Video recordings/pictures of a procedure, if taken for other than patient care purposes 5. Video recordings of a telemedicine consultation 6. Communication tools 7. Protocols/clinical pathways, best practice alerts, other knowledge sources. 8. A patient s personal health record provided by the patient to his or her care provider. 9. Medication reconciliation from an outside source (pharmacy, other providers) 10. Alerts, reminders, pop-ups and similar tools used as aids in the clinical decision making process.

39 Not Part of LHR Administrative Data Administrative data are patient identifiable data used for administrative, regulatory, and healthcare operations and for financial purposes. Examples include, but are not limited to: 1. Authorization forms for release of information 2. Correspondence concerning requests for records. 3. Birth and death certificates. 4. Event history/audit trails. 5. Patient-identifiable abstracts in coding system. 6. Patient identifiable data reviewed for quality assurance or utilization management. 7. Administrative reports.

40 Not Part of LHR Derived Data Derived data consist of de-identified information aggregated or summarized from patient records for statistical reporting, licensing and accreditation. Examples include, but are not limited to: 1. Accreditation reports 2. Best practice guidelines created from aggregate patient data. 3. External required reporting, public health records and statistical reports.

41 Not Part of LHR Draft Documents Draft Documents / Work in Progress. Electronic processes and workflow management require methods to manage work in progress. Draft/Interrupted documents are not considered a part of the official Medical Record until they are finalized and signed by an authorized signer.

42 Not Part of LHR Audit Trails An audit trail is part of the metadata created around a document. It is composed of all transactions and activities, including access, associated with the health record. Elements of an audit trail may include date, time, nature of transaction or activity, and the individual or automated system linked to the transaction or activity.

43 Legal Health Record & E-Discovery Other considerations for E.HR s Clinical Decision Support Functions Prompts Alerts System Notifications

44 Next Steps.. Evaluate E-Discovery Process against systems and record management. Understand how systems handle deleted, shadow, versions, temporary documents, data. Identify Who can provide system information, reports?

45 Resources/Reference List AHIMA. "Fundamentals of the Legal Health Record and Designated Record Set." Journal of AHIMA 82, no.2 (February 2011): expanded online version. Dougherty, Michelle, and Lydia Washington. "Defining and Disclosing the Designated Record Set and the Legal Health Record." Journal of AHIMA 79, no. 4 (Apr. 2008): Available online in the AHIMA Body of Knowledge at Servais, Cheryl E. The Legal Health Record. Chicago, IL: AHIMA, Deleting Errors in the EHR (AHIMA September 2010, Working Smart) AHIMA e-discovery Task Force. "Litigation Response Planning and Policies for E-Discovery." Journal of AHIMA 79, no.2 (February 2008): Legal Electronic Health Record Policy Template. Body Of Knowledge

46 Audience Questions